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Volcano Type
The type of lava and eruptive behavior of a volcano help determine its basic shape and proportions. The steepest, most imposing volcanoes are typically ̶0;composite̶1; or ̶0;stratovolcanoes,̶1; so-named because they̵7;re composed with combined layers of viscous, silica-rich lava, such as andesitic or rhyolitic, and violently ejected ash and other pyroclastic materials. The interbedding and overlapping of these materials confer strength, allowing stratovolcanoes to grow into their often-towering, sharply conical profiles; although, given these are the most violent of volcanoes, there̵7;s always the possibility of shattering blasts to abruptly diminish the mountain̵7;s presence. Shield volcanoes are so-named because of the broad, subtly humped contour they achieve through repeated gentle emissions of easily flowing basaltic lava. They are often tremendously massive, but rarely topographically formidable.
Other Elevational Factors
Volcanoes build themselves upwards through emissions of lava and pyroclastic material. They may also stand high because of their position on a broad topographic arch or plateau, like the Andes on the lofty Altiplano. Wearing down an inactive or dormant volcano, meanwhile, are all the varied forces of weathering and erosion, not least the gnawing influence of running water. If volcanoes are tall enough, even those in the tropics, they can accumulate glaciers, particularly during cold, moist climate cycles. The ̶0;glacial buzzsaw hypothesis̶1; predicts these ice masses limit the maximum height of mountains around the world, although data suggests tall, highly active volcanoes may, in the geological short term, anyway, outpace the normalizing reduction of glacial denudation.
Prominence
In terms of elevation above sea level, the world̵7;s tallest mountains are non-volcanic. However, in terms of topographic prominence, he height of a peak above the immediately surrounding terrain, certain stratovolcanoes are high on the list. Kilimanjaro in East Africa has a topographic prominence of 5,885 meters (19,308 feet), fourth behind Everest, Aconcagua and Denali, and is considered the world̵7;s loftiest free-standing mountain. The substantial prominence of many volcanoes is not altogether surprising, given the mountains often mark isolated vents and not broad-scale fronts of tectonic uplift as in the Himalaya or Rocky Mountains, where high peaks linked by networks of ridges crowd one another.
Champion Volcanoes
Earth̵7;s tallest volcanoes in terms of height above sea level are 6,887-meter (22,595-foot) Ojos del Salado and 6,739-meter (22,109-foot) Llullaillaco, both in the Andes along the Argentina-Chile border. Measured from the ultimate base to the summit, Hawaii̵7;s Mauna Kea, at 10,100 meters (33,100 feet), is far taller; indeed, by this measure it̵7;s Earth̵7;s tallest mountain of any kind. Its neighbor, 9,170-meter (30,085-foot) Mauna Loa, is the second-tallest and, incidentally, either the most massive or second-most massive mountain on the planet. The king volcano of the Solar System, however, is Olympus Mons, a Martian shield volcano: This giant soars close to 22 kilometers (14 miles) tall, three times the height of Mount Everest.